Introvert Lucinda Reeves and dashing Gareth Greene are roommates, but although they share the same quarters, they live in two different worlds. To make matters worse, Gareth is Lucinda's instructor at college. STORY COMPLETED.

A/N: The towns called Bode and Vale are fictional, and if
they do happen to exist out there, I can assure you that it is a complete
coincidence. Enjoy.

CHAPTER1

Lucinda Reeves closed her diary. She felt strange. She didn't
feel like Lucinda Reeves. She felt that she was a stranger to herself; but then
she looked up and saw her timetable stuck onto the pin board, and all at once
everything seemed familiar again; the strange sensation of not knowing herself
lifted.

She was a student; French and English were her main
subjects, and she was tired of going to college by train. Getting up at the
crack of dawn, sleepwalking to the station and napping for one and a half hour
in a forsaken compartment...She was just as tired and sleepy when she had to
take the train home nearly every evening. She had decided to search for a flat
she could share with someone. Her best friend Shelley was already cooped up in
an apartment with her boyfriend, so Shelley was out of the question. Lucinda
looked at the notice she had discovered on the notice board of the French
Institute and photocopied. A student doing his doctorate in French Linguistics
was searching for a roommate; his name was Gareth Greene, and any prospective
roommates were welcome to phone him up on his mobile. Lucinda's hand moved
towards her own mobile. She bit her lip, hesitating. Then she shook her head
and dialled the number indicated on the piece of paper.

The dial tone was soon exchanged for a deep, pleasant voice
saying: "Hello, this is Gareth Greene."

Lucinda moistened her lips.

"Er..Uh…Hi Gareth, my name is Lucinda Reeves. I believe you
are searching for a roommate?"

"Ah, so you read the notice. Yes, I am. Are you interested?"

Well, obviously she was interested; otherwise she wouldn't
be calling him.

"Er…Yes," she said awkwardly.

"Mmh…You'll want to see the place first, naturally."

"Yes, please. Which time would be okay?"

"One moment, please. I need to fetch my agenda."

There was a small click as he put down his mobile. Lucinda's
cheeks were burning with nervousness and excitement.

"Are you there?" Gareth asked her.

"Yes."

"Alright…"

They fixed the date, and he asked her if she had a job, or
was searching for one in Vale, because of the rent. She told him that she was
looking around for one.

There was a short silence, as if Gareth was not too pleased
by her uncertainty.

But then he said:

"Fine; if you like the flat after viewing it, then we can
discuss the details. See you on Friday afternoon."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Bye."

"Bye."

Friday afternoon came soon enough; Lucinda shivered as a
cold gust of wind ruffled her black hair. She took off the elastic holding it
together in a ponytail; it was a bit tight, and her scalp was starting to
protest. She glanced at the enlarged section of a map of Vale she had printed
from the internet. She was taking the correct route so far. In another five
minutes, she found the apartment. Her heart began to beat rapidly. Nervously,
she rang the bell. For a few seconds nothing happened; then a loud buzzing told
her that she could open the door; she passed inside the building. It was warm,
and with a sense of relief she climbed up the stairs to the second floor.

"Are you Lucinda Reeves?"

She turned; a very attractive young man was facing her, his
hand on the door handle behind him. He was about one meter eighty; his hair was
short and dark-brown, his eyes were steely-grey and his features exquisitely
moulded.

"Er…yes, I am Lucinda. You are Gareth?"

"Yes."

"Uh, pleased to meet you," Lucinda said, extending her hand.
He shook hers briefly; then he opened the door and stood back to let her enter
before him. Lucinda stooped and removed her shoes and placed them on the
shoe-tray outside. She waited until he had closed the door.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you," she said, smiling shyly.

"Well…let's start, then," he said.

Half an hour later, Lucinda decided that she liked the flat
very much; the division of the rent between the two of them was reasonable, and
she told him she would like to move in once she had found a job.

"I've been looking for one, and I've got an interview on
Monday," she told him.

"Good luck," he said. Gareth was polite but rather distant;
he didn't ask questions about her life or her studies; on the other hand,
Lucinda thought sensibly, it was a bit early for all that. It was not yet even
clear whether she was going to move in or not. She would only know by Monday.

+++

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.